Johnson County roads improvements approvedThe Arkansas Highway Commission approved bids for street improvements in Johnson County, the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) stated in a news release. "The purpose of the project is to resurface and rehabilitate 1.7 miles of roadway in Knoxville and 1.2 miles in Hartman," the release stated. Blackstone Construction, LLC of Russellville was awarded the $363,784 contract. If weather permits, construction could begin w...

Nearly 1,700 vote early in Senate runoffThe Pope County Election Commission reported 1,681 voted during the first week of early voting in the runoff election for the District 16 State Senate seat. During January's special election, 1,765 Pope County residents voted early. Greg Standridge of Russellville and Stan Berry of Dover received the most votes last month, but neither garnered the more than 50 percent necessary to avoid a runoff. Standridge received nearly 48 percent of the vo...

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Friday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear March 9 in Circuit Court. • Billy Battershell, 26, felon in possession of a firearm, theft by receiving and possession of a controlled substance — $10,000. After several witnesses implicated Battershell in a string of break-ins, officers went ...

Clarksville police chief terminatedCLARKSVILLE — The Clarksville Police Department confirmed that after eight years serving as police chief, Greg Donaldson was terminated by Mayor Mark Simpson late Wednesday. A department representative, who declined to give her name, said she didn't want to comment further. "That's all there is," she said. Donaldson said he wasn't given a reason for the termination and speculated it may be related to him wanting to fill three vacancies in the ...

Pottsville students lead Beta conventionPOTTSVILLE — Being a role model comes easy to Pottsville Junior Beta Club students, who participated in the Arkansas State Junior Beta Convention on Jan. 29-30 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Sponsor Jennifer Hull, who will serve as the state sponsor for the next two years, said students who are involved in beta club are also often involved in many other school clubs and activities. "Betas are involved and committed to be the best they c...

Kodell resigns from Subiaco after 25 yearsAfter serving as abbot of Subiaco Abbey and Academy for more than 25 years, Jerome Kodell recently announced his resignation to the religious community. Kodell is the sixth man to hold the title of abbot since the abbey opened in 1891. In a Kodell said he stepping down from the position because he is in good health so that there will be a smooth transition of leadership while he is still able to help, according to a news release from Subiaco A...

Dover denies sewer line tapThe Dover City Council denied a request from Pope County Surveyor David Garza for a tap on the city sewer line on Field Street during its regular meeting Tuesday. The council denied the request on the grounds that the location was “far outside” the city limits. Mayor Pat Johnson said he had promised he would bring the request to the council, even though he knew it was counter to a policy adopted in 2010. “As you can see,” he said, referring to...

Local couple detects fraudulent ad onlineWhen a local couple wanted to purchase a vehicle, they turned to a common source for buying and selling these days — Craigslist, an online classified ad service. The couple, who asked to not be named, became alarmed when they saw two nearly-identical ads for sports utility vehicles with listed prices well under the values listed in Kelley Blue Book, a well-known vehicle valuation and automotive research company. The seller in both ads describe...

News Briefs (Feb. 6, 2015)Free Tax-Aide program to be available AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are providing free assistance with federal and state income tax returns at the Hughes Center, located at 1000 E. Parkway Drive in Russellville, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Monday through Wednesday thereafter until April 15. The Hughes Center will be closed Feb. 16. Taxpayers must show proper identification including a photo I.D. and Social Security card or ...

Record turnout for Time Out for TechArkansas Tech University welcomed the largest high school senior turnout in the 16-year history of its Time Out for Tech preview event on Thursday. There were 1,683 high school seniors on hand for the opening session at Tucker Coliseum. Including parents and families, approximately 3,200 individuals attended Time Out for Tech 2015. The opening session was followed by academic break-out sessions, campus tours, lunch at the various dining option...

Blevins, Tidwell earn Life Saving AwardDARDANELLE — Police Chief Montie Sims honored two Dardanelle police officers during the Dardanelle City Council meeting Monday. Officers Brian Blevins and Jamey Tidwell were awarded the Life Saving Award after they prevented a suicidal man from harming himself or others during a confrontation in November. "Sometimes what they [officers] are required to do faces many dangers, and they have to put their life on the line or be endangered," Sims s...

Ground breaking medicineMilestone Construction Company of Springdale has been working on the building of MedExpress Urgent Care, which is scheduled to be complete by May 1. The full-service, walk-in clinic at 511 West Main St. in Russellville will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Russellville Police seek theft suspectsThe Russellville Police Department (RPD) is seeking the public’s help in identifying three men suspected of committing felony theft with an estimated value of $20,000. Officers were only able to obtain photos and videos of two of three suspects, which are pictured here. The suspects are believed to be driving a newer model blue Chevrolet Impala. Anyone with any information is asked to call the RPD at 968-3232 or the Silent Tip Line at 967-2221.

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared during felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear March 16 in Circuit Court. • James Darter, 43, second-degree sexual assault — $20,000. Darter was arrested this week on a warrant stemming from a complaint last year. On March 29, 2014, a mother reported to officers that her then-10-year-ol...

News Briefs (Feb. 5, 2015)Pope Election Commission meeting The meeting of the Pope County Election Commissioners originally scheduled for Wednesday has been re-scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday. The meeting will be held at Pope County Election Headquarters, located at 1509 E. Main St., Suite 7 in Russellville. Red Barn open Friday for music The Red Barn will open at 7 p.m. on Friday for music. There will be no potluck. All singers and musicians are invited. RHS After Pro...

Sidewalk meeting packs City HallResidents, city officials and members of the Arkansas Tech University (ATU) community packed Russellville City Hall on Tuesday to discuss the proposed sidewalk along East O Street from North Greenwich Avenue to North Arkansas Avenue. City Engineer/Public Works Director Kurt Jones gave a brief presentation of the current design then addressed the public's comments and answered questions. Jones said the current design — an 8-foot multi-use aspha...

Severance plan, food service causes confusion at called meetingDiscussions about severance packages and outsourcing food services left many Russellville School District employees confused after a called Russellville Board of Education meeting Tuesday at the administration building. The board passed an employee severance resolution and agreement, as well as a request to advertise bids in the process of seeking alternative food service. Although the items were intended to be unrelated, both may affect some ...

Russellville school board approves one-time exit incentive for employeesThe Russellville Board of Education voted Tuesday to offer a one-time incentive to eligible teachers, administrators and classified staff as a way to cut more than $1.9 million from the Russellville School District’s budget over the next eight years. Certified employees who voluntarily retire or otherwise leave the district at the end of this school year and are eligible for the package will receive $40,000 plus pay for accrued sick leave paid...

Commissioner Daniels honored at council meetingDARDANELLE — Mayor Carolyn McGee honored outgoing planning commissioner Cornelia Daniels during the Dardanelle City Council meeting Monday at City Hall. McGee said she and the city were grateful for the 20 years of dedicated service Daniels committed to the Dardanelle Planning Commission. "This young lady has made some hard decisions through those 20 years," McGee said. "She's done a great job of helping out her fellow members." Police Chief M...